: Barbero notes the irony that while Italy invaded Russia three times, Russian troops have only entered Italian soil once (in 1799 to fight the French), and they left voluntarily shortly after.
The story of (Never Invade Russia) is a recurring theme in the lectures of historian Alessandro Barbero , most notably captured in his full 2022 talk and his 2017 appearance at the Salone del Libro in Torino . Barbero presents this as one of the few "laws" of history, humorously suggesting that while history doesn't always repeat itself, it does offer a collection of cautionary examples—with the ruinous attempt to conquer the Russian heartland being the most prominent. The Clash of Two "Romes" Mai INVADERE la RUSSIA - Alessandro Barbero [Co...
A key part of Barbero's narrative—often shared on social media—is that while the West frequently views Russia as an aggressor, history shows a long list of Western powers attempting to invade Russia. He points out that in the last 200 years: : Barbero notes the irony that while Italy
: Mussolini sent the ARMIR (Italian Army in Russia), where approximately 100,000 soldiers perished on the Don front. Key Takeaways from Barbero The Clash of Two "Romes" A key part
: The "General Winter" and the sheer scale of the Russian Eurasian colossus create a "cemetery of armies" for those who enter.
Barbero illustrates this through the lens of Napoleon’s 1812 campaign. He argues that the conflict wasn't just a political disagreement, but a clash between two empires that believed they were the heirs to the Roman legacy: